Geography of Latin America and Indigenous Cultures

A set of 35 vocabulary flashcards focused on the geography, cultures, and socioeconomic factors in Latin America.

Pastoral Nomadism

A rural livelihood built upon the seasonal herding of livestock.

Declining

A term that indicates a reduction in the number or importance of something.

Bedouins

Nomadic Arab peoples primarily found in the deserts of Arabia.

Berbers

Indigenous peoples of the Maghreb region in North Africa.

Bakhtiaris

A nomadic ethnic group in Iran known for their herding lifestyle.

Urban Region

An area characterized by higher population density and vast human-built features.

Urban Primacy

The concentration of population and economic activity in a single city.

Megacities

Very large cities with populations over 10 million.

World Cities

Important cities that serve as key nodes in the global economy.

Tropics

Regions between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, characterized by warm climates.

Ecosystems

Biologically related communities of organisms and their physical environment.

Middle America

The region encompassing Mexico and Central America.

Andes Mountains

Major mountain range in South America formed by tectonic plates interaction.

Sierra Madre

A series of mountain ranges in Mexico including Sierra Madre Oriental, Occidental, and del Sur.

Tropical Climates

Climates characterized by warmth year-round and significant rainfall variability.

Altitudinal Zonation

The relationship between elevation increase and temperature decrease.

Tierra Caliente

Hot land from sea level to about 3,000 feet, typically featuring rainforests and savannas.

Tierra Templada

Temperate land between 3,000 and 5,000 feet, suitable for comfortable human settlement.

Tierra Fría

Cold land found at altitudes between 6,000 to 12,000 feet, such as pine forests.

Tierra Helada

High-altitude land above 12,000 feet, often consisting of grassland and tundra.

Indigenous Geography

A close attachment of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands and cultural identity.

Colonial Marginalization

The historical oppression and disenfranchisement of indigenous and local populations.

Primate Cities

Cities that are disproportionately larger than others in the same country, dominating urban areas.

Spanish Grid Pattern

City planning model brought by Spanish colonizers, featuring a central plaza and grid layout.

Informal Sector

Unregulated and untaxed economic activities, often low-wage and unstable.

Overurbanization

Rapid urban growth leading to inadequate infrastructure and informal settlements.

Barrios Jovenes

Young neighborhoods or informal settlements in Latin American cities.

Neoliberalism

Economic policies favoring privatization and minimal government intervention in markets.

Privatization

Transfer of ownership of public sector services to the private sector.

Free-Market

An economic system where prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

Government Retraction

Reduction of government roles in social services.

Stringent Policing

Strict enforcement of laws and regulations, often associated with neoliberal policies.

Comunidades Agrarias

Communal lands or agrarian communities often inhabited by indigenous peoples.

Biosphere Reserves

Protected areas meant to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development.

Autonomous Regions

Self-governing regions with significant control over local affairs.

Displacement

Forced removal or relocation of indigenous populations from their ancestral lands.

Tropical Fruits

Fruits that grow in warm, tropical regions, often cultivated in Tierra Caliente.